Journal of Bioscience and Biotechnology Discovery

This study was undertaken to evaluate the acute toxicity and sub-acute paracetamol toxicity-induced nuclear aberration, antioxidative stress enzyme activities such as CAT, SOD, LPO, GPX of Clarias gariepinus. Three hundred (300) juveniles with average weight of 50.96±1.3g were procured from a reputable fish farm in Enugu to the Fisheries Research Laboratory (latitude 6.4659^oN and longitude 7.5762⁰E). 180 juveniles were exposed to acute concentrations of 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500, 7000mgL^-1 and control in triplicate replication while remaining 120 fish in similar replication were exposed to 620, 1240, 3100 mgL^-1corresponding to 1/10, 1/5 and ½ 96hour LC₅₀ = 6200 mgL^-1, y = 14.23x - 48.96, R² = 0.963, safety dose 1/100 LC₅₀ = 62 mgL^-1. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vein on day 2, 4, and 8 for erythrocyte-oxidative enzyme activities. Data was subjected to one way analysis of variance to determine the significant differences between treatments and control at p<0.05 using computer software SPSS version 20 and was expressed as means plus standard error of means. The exposed fish showed behavioral changes (erratic movement, air gulping, nervous manifestation and imbalance) before death. CAT reduced significantly below the control value of 0.83 to the least value of 0.57 µmol mm^-1 mg protein^-1 among the highest group exposed to 3100 mg/L. Similarly, SOD activity in exposed group of fish varied significantly from the control and ranged from the highest control value of 12.31 to the least value of 8.27 U mol mm^-1 mg protein^-1among fish to the highest concentration of the drug. GPX ranged from 9 to 4.65 µmol mm^-1 mg protein^-1 among group of fish in the control to 3100mg/L of the drug. On the other hand, LPO increased significantly (p<0.05) from the control value of 6.83 to 8 mMole/TBARS/mg protein among group of fish to 3100 mg/L of the drug indicative of a dose dependent elevation of micronuclei The use of genotoxic potential and oxidative stress modulation by fish in inland water bodies can be a useful diagnostic tool to measure the health alterations in C. gariepinus which may serve as early warning indicators of pollution.